Core Infrastructure

SureCall

If you work in an office, there’s a good chance this has happened to you: You pull out your cell phone to make or receive an important call or try look up something on the web. But after you unlock your screen, you discover you don’t have adequate signal to make the connection.

Fremont, Calif.-based SureCall works to make sure its customers don’t have that problem – whether they are in an office, home, car or even on a watercraft. The company, which started operations in 2001, designs and manufactures FCC-approved cell phone signal boosters, amplifiers and accessories.

Prominent clients, corporations and government entities including Chrysler, Hewlett-Packard, NASA, the U.S. Military and Department of State have deployed SureCall booster kits. SureCall earned this customer base through technology and performance that sets it apart, Vice President of Sales Frankie Smith says.

“Compared to some of the other technologies out there, our devices are carrier-agnostic,” he declares. “They boost all carrier signals simultaneously, [and our clients] don’t have to worry about if it’s compatible to AT&T, Verizon [or others] because it’s compatible with all North American cell carriers and devices.”

SureCall’s systems also have the approval of these carriers, saving its clients valuable time. “You don’t have to go to the carrier as you would in an active DAS solution,” he says. “The only people that need to be involved are the building owner – who is the decision-maker – and the contractor/installer.”

The boosters also require no programming, Smith adds. “Once you have everything installed and powered on, it automatically boosts all of the incoming and outgoing cellular signals,” he says. “There’s no programming or fine tuning [required].”

Quick Turnarounds

SureCall provides a more modestly sized product than its competitors, making it a more cost-effective solution. “It’s just one box per kit and multiple boosters can be deployed for an effective scalable solution,” Smith says, noting that this reduces the installation cost.

They also can be deployed relatively quickly. If the company was contacted about adding its system to a 100,000-square-foot corporate building, “We’ll have a design layout and Bill of Materials turned around in five days or less,” he says.

Although SureCall does not require its clients to use certified SureCall installers, “It’s highly recommended just [due to] the nature of the product and understanding,” Smith says. “If there is an onsite IT group or they have their own third-party contractor, we can get them trained via our free certification program held live online twice a week.”

He praises installers such as Hixxa Communications, ANS Satellite & Alarm Systems and Max Boost Wireless. “They’re really knowledgeable on how signals are propagated,” Smith says, noting that each company is skilled at optimizing installation and performance inside buildings with the most challenging of layouts.

“[They also] provide quality service to the end customer,” he says. “They make sure the customers’ are happy before everything’s said and done.”

Product Pride

SureCall’s products include its flagship product, its Force5 2.0 voice, text and 4G LTE signal booster. The product, which won the 2017 Commercial Integrator BEST and CE Pro BEST awards, is designed for large building use.

It also is the first cell phone signal booster with integrated remote access for adjusting and optimizing booster performance while off-site. As previously mentioned, Smith notes that SureCall recently provided a Force5 system to NASA, which reflects the quality level of its products.

As a government agency, “They’re held to a strict buying standard,” he says. “They are going to thoroughly inspect the quality before any decision is made.”

SureCall also provided multiple Force5 systems to a five-story hotel in Tampa, Fla. “When you’re at a hotel, you need a solution that can boost all carrier signals,” he says. “People need to be able to come in and use their cell phones.”

The company recently introduced its Ultra Thin Antenna, a low-profile indoor dome antenna for in-building cell phone signal booster kits. This is an Omni-directional, ceiling-mounted product that transmits and receives signals in a 360-degree pattern.

But the product goes beyond meeting its clients’ technical needs. “It’s a very flat antenna that blends in with the ceiling very well,” Smith says. “It’s unobtrusive to the eye.”

Great Values

SureCall has established a niche in providing systems to buildings that cover 250,000 square feet or less. “We have a tremendous [advantage] with over 80 percent of the buildings in the United States being under that size,” Smith says.

Much of the company’s work, he adds, is in the commercial sector. “In that space, cell signal does not discriminate,” he says. “Any type of commercial building you have built with concrete or brick keeps the signal out.

“We do a lot of business parks, parking garages and mid-rise hotels,” he continues. “It’s becoming more and more prevalent that people want to use their phones.”

The company also wants to expand its share of hospitality and government work. Clients in the government sector “have limited budgets, so they need cost-effective solutions,” he says. “That’s what SureCall provides at a great value.”

A Winning Combination

Smith is proud of SureCall and the level of service it provides. “There’s a constant focus on the end-user experience,” he says. “We’re making sure we’re creating products that our customers are going to have a great experience with.”

The company also provides its employees with the proper training to ensure this service. “I’m proud of how we’ve developed that over the years to make sure everyone has a great experience,” he says.

Smith predicts continued growth for SureCall. “There’s no sign of slowing down as wireless becomes more and more prevalent,” he says, vowing that the company will continue to provide clients with high-performance products.

“It’s a great combination to keep our growth going,” he says, noting that SureCall will turn its customers into advocates for its technology. “We’re looking at exponential growth over the next few years.”